Sunday, February 15, 2009

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day - February '09

While quite a lot of our snow has melted due to a few days of warmer temperatures this past week ( we almost made it to 50ºF/10ºC last Wednesday), we still have patchy snow on the ground, and I don't expect to see snowdrop buds for at least another month. The sun shone brightly today, but the wind was cold and the temperature didn't climb above 30ºF/-1ºC. I have no doubt the snow will be back before long, but while we wait for winter to wear itself out my indoors blooms still provide some lovely color.

On December 10th I planted the two Amaryllis bulbs my dear husband brought home to me as an early Christmas gift, and they've been delighting us with beautiful blooms for the past week.

'Pink Diamond' has four glorious blooms and a faint, sweet fragrance.

Since I took this photo 'Romance' has opened a third magnificent double bloom.

Here they both are in the late afternoon sunshine today. Their beauty is so much appreciated by our winter-weary eyes!

Another star is sharing the limelight too - the Star Begonia I showed you last Bloom Day is actually blooming!

It has two bloom stalks and another is just begining to shoot up. Posted by Picasa

This plant was new to me this past summer so these are the first flowers I've seen on it. What a lovely surprise!

The little Palm is flowering again, as it did last year. This is the second cluster, and there are several more yet to open.

I'm overwintering this pretty burgundy leaved Wax Begonia, 'Bada Boom', and will take cuttings soon to plant in the gardens and window boxes.

The lovely pale pink Baby Wing Begonia is still blooming, Posted by Picasa

and so is the beautiful Rieger Begonia.

Molly likes to sit on the plant stand among these pretties and watch the birds....a practice that is firmly discouraged. She's managed to make herself extremely unpopular a few times by knocking one or two over.

The Columnea is being rather stingy with it's blooms...only providing us with one at a time. Perhaps it needs feeding.

It's sometimes called 'Goldfish Plant'. Can you see why? Posted by Picasa

The pretty geranium I showed in January's Bloom post is blooming nicely.

And this red Ivy Geranium has several blooms opening.

I love the soft shade of 'Butterfly' Ivy Geranium. Posted by Picasa

Ah, there's Jasmine watching the birds. She doesn't want to be left out. Posted by Picasa And there's just one flower on the Abutilon, but several buds are forming.

It's growing some healthy new leaves after being quite severely pruned at the beginning of winter. Posted by Picasa

I keep forgetting to mention that January 14th was the third anniversary of this blog, Colors of the Garden. Time sure flies when you're having fun, doesn't it? :)

Thanks, Carol of May Dreams Gardens for hosting Bloom Day.
If you'd like to see what's blooming in other gardens the world over, visit Carol to see a long list of GBBD participants.

Happy Bloom Day everyone!

54 comments:

Needled Mom said...[Reply]

I would imagine that all of the blooms are beauty for your winter weary eyes. They are all simply lovely, but the Amaryllis are spectacular.

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...[Reply]

I am jealous! In a good way. So many beautiful blooms! The most unusual for me is the palm bloom. I am struggling to keep my sago palm alive... I am wondering how do you keep a moisture level? Anything special?

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Looks like you have the perfect window for these lovelies to sit and bloom their hearts out!

VP said...[Reply]

Happy blogiversary! Nice to see your cats amongst your lovely blooms even if that causes you a few headaches.

buedamau said...[Reply]

they all seem so healthy, i'm a little jealous, couse i'm always in war with all kind of pests!
the cat looking to birds? it's just his nature: mine would guard the canaries cages to death, if he couldn't eat them no other cat woul get even near ;P
but wild visitor birds were a completly different story...

Lisa at Greenbow said...[Reply]

Kerri, your indoor garden blooms make my heart sing. I really should focus on getting some plants inside that bloom during winter. However my indoor plants just survive in here. Sigh... Your sweet kitties are probably forgiven their destructive missteps after the mess is cleared away. The poor things, they don't mean to. At least they don't eat your plants. A friend of mine can't have real plants in the house because her cats eat them. Happy GBBD.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Kerri,
Your Amaryllis are absolutely gorgeous! And, I have always loved the delicate begonia blooms. Happy Bloom Day!!

LINDA from Each Little World said...[Reply]

Your blooms are lovely but the birds in the previous posts are amazing! We don't have a spot where they come so close to our windows — what a treat esp. in the winter. I grew up in Buffalo and also lived in Rochester so I always like to read about upstate gardeners.

joco said...[Reply]

Hiya Kerri,
Very nice array of colour in your home. Safe from snails, greenfly and other nasties too.
That geranium is a beautiful deep red. Can I have a cutting ;-)
I wonder how the cellar garden is doing.
Jo

CONEFLOWER said...[Reply]

Hello Kerri! I am new to your blog but I have put you on my list of favorites on my blog

What a wonderful gift you give us with your birds and blooms and all this lovely color! Thank you.

I read back a little bit. The previous post is wonderful with all the feathered friends. Oh! I just left for a moment to photograph a pair of cardinals visiting my feeder. So fun!

Chandramouli S said...[Reply]

Nothing can beat the beauty of an Amaryllis, Kerri! Excellent. Even a single Columnea bloom looks gorgeous and so does the other flowers too! Great post, Kerri.

Gail said...[Reply]

Kerri, Your post is goregeous...I am crazy about the 'goldfish plant'...it is delightful!
Happy Blogaversary...3 years is fantastic...we ought to shower you with seeds or seedlings!

Gail

tina said...[Reply]

Congratulations on your third anniversary Kerri! And you have some of the most lovely houseplants I have ever seen. Just spectacular.

Marie said...[Reply]

Beautiful flowers!

My tulips photos are from a bunch I bought.

joey said...[Reply]

Lots of good stuff going on, Kerri ... especially admiring your handsome Amaryllis since I did not plant any this season. Our snow melted like yours then is snowed again and we're expecting more this week ... we must both remember, snow is good for the garden :)

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri, you certainly make the most of the indoor blooms, so lovely. And happy blogaversary, wow three years is a lot! The amaryllis are fabulous and the pink abutilon is a wonder. I have never seen one that color before, so sweet!
Frances

Jan said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri,
Beautiful blooms indeed! All very warm and soft, appealing to the eyes. I love them all--and especially the way your cats sit in the middle of them:) Congratulations on 3 yrs. of blogging! You have a very nice blog and I'm glad I met you;)
I re-posted my GBBD and cut out redundant photos...I like it better because I can see what I really have. So far, my cat hasn't touched a one!! Fingers crossed;-x

garden girl said...[Reply]

Congratulations on your blogaversary Kerri! So many beautiful blooms you have! The amaryllis are gorgeous, and I love all the begonias and that abutilon too. I have an orange-flowered one that's just starting to bud after its severe pruning in the fall.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Kerri,

Those are some great blooms to take you through winter. I'm loving all of them. I think the palm blooms are extremely interesting, as I've never seen those before. That 'Romance' amaryllis is splendid. Happy Bloom Day and Happy Blogaversary.~~Dee

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Beautiful plants! I have been doing some clippings, too. The geraniums are doing well, but no luck so far with the begonias.

I know this is late, but Happy Blogging Anniversary!

Tabor said...[Reply]

Why do I get that sinking feeling that you have mastered something I can never do? Your plants are gorgeous and wonderful at this time of year. I am just now getting my amaryllis to bloom.

Tabor said...[Reply]

I have to add...how do you get such lovely geraniums? Mine are just leaves!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I just couldn't summon the energy for this bloom day since I had to work but these are wonderful and I have two amaryllis just about to pop open.

Carol Michel said...[Reply]

Happy blog anniversary, a month late. And thanks for showing us so many indoor blooming plants. It makes winter easier, I think, when there are blooming plants indoors with us.

Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Hi Kerri. Two people commented on my blog about a post I did today on my palm blooms ~ so fun to see someone else (who probably knows much more about them) with the same thing happening. It's the first time mine has bloomed ~ does yours bloom every winter?? You have so MANY indoor blooms that are just gorgeous. It has to make the winter so much better to be surrounded by all these gorgeous beauties. LOVE the goldfish plant ~ I can see how it got its name. and that double amaryllis is spectacular (I have a thing for them). Happy belated bloom day Kerri. and don't get that cute kitty in too much trouble for knocking over the plants ~ I think she makes for a pretty picture sitting up there in the window like that! :-)

F Cameron said...[Reply]

Kerri -- your indoor garden is very beautiful!

Cameron

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...[Reply]

Wonderful Kerri what a gorgeous GBBD post, you have so many lovely indoor plants, I think this Star Begonia was particulary sweet.

Tyra

Monica the Garden Faerie said...[Reply]

Love all your blooms, esp. the amaryllis. Mine is a bit behind (having just two buds at this point), but I planted it Dec. 27. Neither of my cats messes with my house plants and both are pretty sure-footed. Fiona can jump up somewhere blind (not knowing what's on the object she's jumping on) and manage not to disturb anything as she lands. James is nearly 16 and not as dexterous as he once was, but he's still pretty gentle. :)

Commonweeder said...[Reply]

What a glorious houseful of blooms! I always regret forgetting to buy an amaryllis or two. Yours are gorgeous.

Roses and Lilacs said...[Reply]

Your house is like a tropical paradise. I was just complaining about my cats destroying my house plants. Yours seem to coexist well.

LOve the Amaryllis, perfect colors.
Marnie

Anonymous said...[Reply]

I definitely need to get more ambitous about overwintering flowers next year! Your geraniums, begonias and such are inspiring me to try harder. Very pretty!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Your indoor blooms are amazing - what variety you have, I particularly like your Abutilon and your Columnea is interesting
K

Cathy S. said...[Reply]

very nice blooming plants you have!
I cannot get my Geranium to bloom
indoors, how do you do it? I have
grow lights, and southern exposure,
every year I bring it inside during
the winter, it survives fine but never blooms until March.

Anonymous said...[Reply]

oh marvellous flowers !!!
thank you very much Kerri,Ilove them and cat too between plants

Merle said...[Reply]

Dear Kerri ~~ Congrats on your blogging anniversary - well done 3 years. Your flowers are beautiful, especially the amaryllis and the many begonias. In fact they are all lovely. Thanks for your comments. The fire situation is much better, still a few burning in inaccessible places like forests. So hope there are no more bad ones. A firefighter from Canberra was killed yesterday when a tree fell on him. Total dead
now 201. Take care, my friend,
Love, Merle.

Cris said...[Reply]

You have a green thumb Kerri... The cat by the window... it is so peaceful. Yes... I have been sick, with ear infection and on antibiotics, too much swimming over the Summer... :-) Thanks for asking. xoxoxo

Anonymous said...[Reply]

Hi .. you sure have lots of beautiful blooms in your garden. They are just lovely! And thanks for your concern for my daughter, Syara. The doctor said it's shrinking and there's nothing to worry but she has another appointment six month from today. I'm happy your condition is under control, too!

Sunita Mohan said...[Reply]

I love those geraniums! I have a major soft spot for them, can you tell? :)Unfortunately they dont grow for me. Oh well...
Kerri, we seem to share those two begonias in our gardens. I really enjoy my begonias because large areas of my garden are in shade (thanks to my cashew trees) and the begonias fit in beautifully under them.
Hope Spring gets to your garden soon!

Naturegirl said...[Reply]

Kerri you've managed to maintain a wonderful assortment of blooms to chase away the winter blahs! Interesting how you have positioned your indoor garden exactly where mine are..and always a kitty peering out from behind watching the backyard activity! Happy BD to you! NG

Val said...[Reply]

MY little palm is blooming too, but this year its at home with me, and not on my desk at work. Where I dont work any more. I dont work any more at all!! What a lot has happened in the year since I commented on your palm flowering!!

Thanks for reminding me of the passing of time and the blessing of a new grandaughter - and a piece of news I will be blogging about in a day or two!! Shhhh.

Barbara said...[Reply]

First, my congratulations to your third blog anniversary, dear Kerri. I hope you'll continue to write so full of joy. It's great to see your colourful winter garden inside! So rich on beautiful blooms. I like this goldfish plant and I am astonished to see all the geraniums blooming (so you have this flower all the year round, don't you?). We still had temperatures of -10°C the last few days, but today it was sunny :-) !!
Hope you've a good time!

Annie in Austin said...[Reply]

Congratulations on your 3rd blogiversary, Kerri - and also on coming up with such a colorful post in a NY State February.
'Pink Diamond' amaryllis has a scent? One always feels as if those big, beautiful flowers should have a fragrance, and someone (DH, right?) was smart enough to choose one that did.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Alice said...[Reply]

Kerri - you always manage to find the most surprising and delightful blooms to brighten your winter days.

The Amarylis are so beautiful - Ross has an eye for lovely things (guess that's why he picked you...lol), and they are blooming magnificently.

I hope you know where all your gardening tools are......Spring isn't too far away you know. We'll be in for a treat in photos then....enough to make us all jealous.

Meems said...[Reply]

Kerri,
You have so many beautiful blooms ... and it is hard for me to imagine they are all inside. That bright, sunny window is doing its duty well. I recognize the begonias and naturallyl the blooms on the palm. I DO love palm blooms and dates as they mature.

I'm wondering if my Amaryllis will even bloom this year. They are all outside and the two freezes we had last month melted their leaves to the ground.
Meems @ Hoe and Shovel

Pam said...[Reply]

Can't keep a gardener down! Lovely.

Connie said...[Reply]

Thank you so much for your kind comments on my post about my Mom's garden.

You have a wonderful assortment of houseplants! The Amaryllis are beautiful. I have one of those goldfish plants, but have never seen a bloom on it...it may not get enough light where I have it. My windowsill geraniums are responding to more sunshine and beginning to bloom nicely.

Giddy said...[Reply]

Your blooms are beautiful! How do you keep them looking so healthy. Even with an overhead light, mine look pathetic.

Do the kitties not munch on the plants? I try to keep only the ones I know they won't chew on anywhere near our boys.

Mountain Mama said...[Reply]

You have a lot of blossoms to enjoy and they are so pretty!!! I love the amaryllis! I tried to grow one once but it didn't do well so I never had the courage to try again. Now seeing yours I may give it another try.
Thanks for sharing your lovely flowers with us.

Corner Gardener Sue said...[Reply]

Happy anniversary on your blog. I just started in October, and am wondering if I will be able to keep up when I'm able to be outside gardening.

I enjoyed seeing your lovely indoor blooms, and your cat.

Kylee Baumle said...[Reply]

Happy Belated Blogiversary, Kerri! Seeing your 'Pink Diamond' makes me wish I'd purchased a couple of them at Walmart. They probably still have some, marked down greatly, but I doubt if I could find a decent bulb now, that hasn't bloomed in the box. :-( Yours is so pretty!

I see you have the same speckled leaf Abutilon I do. Mine is blooming like crazy right now!

So many gorgeous inside blooms you have. Especially those geraniums!

Noella said...[Reply]

I am in love with Molly!

Anonymous said...[Reply]

hello
i wanna ask you something.
what kind of palm is the one with the flower? - you have wrote: little palm.
i've got the same and i can't find her name on internet because i want to know more about her.
thank you, and your flowers are beautiful :)

Kerri said...[Reply]

@Anonymous
Hi Anonymous,
Common names for the little palm are Parlor Palm and Neanthe bella. Its Latin name is Chamaedorea elegans 'Bella'. For more information check out this link:
http://www.plant-care.com/table-top-palm.html
Thanks for stopping by :)

Anonymous said...[Reply]

thank you very much. you're kind :)